KATHMANDU: Youths working to tackle climate change today announced that they will organise 18 action-oriented programmes tomorrow to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

“Time has come to show our leaders that we have started to act and ask them what they are doing,” Abhisekh Shrestha, Coordinator of the campaign from the Nepalese Youth for Climate Action, said.

The 350 campaign is said to be the largest campaign ever in the world relating to climate change. According to the official website of 350, more than 7,000 events are slated to be conducted in 188 countries tomorrow.

The number 350 is the most important number in the world. Scientists say 350 is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In compliance with 350, the activists across the world are urging for commitment to lower carbon dioxide by 10 per cent this year. The drive has focussed on 10/10/10 this year, which means reducing Carbon dioxide emission by 10 per cent by the end of 2010. “These types of events will certainly help raise awareness and motivate people to make their behaviour environment-friendly,” Saurav Dhakal, International British Council Climate Change Champion, said.

Dhakal plans to show a documentary by using solar system in Bhaktapur Durbar Square tomorrow, which he claims to be the first of its kind. Respecting this campaign, US President Barack Obama and Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed have announced to act.

On Thursday, Maldives President Nasheed installed a solar energy system at his official residence to mark this campaign. “President Nasheed was on his roof in the Maldives to put the finishing touches on the installation of a new set of solar panels,” said the Maldivan President’s Office in its website. Nasheed installed the system a day after White House decided to install solar panels at the US President’s official residence.

The efforts of the two governments came in the wake of a huge demand from the global campaign of ‘350 parts per million’, which says the world should lower the concentration of Carbon dioxide from the present 390 parts per million in the atmosphere to 350 ppm.